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17-year-old Hayley Orrantia,the only Latina contestant on FOX’s The X-Factor—told Latina.com this week why she chose to audition for The X-Factor over FOX's more established singing competition, American Idol. “I grew up watching American Idol and I love the show and everything,” says Hayley. “But I just never felt like it was for me—not to mention that I was underage most of the time when auditions came around, so I missed a lot of them.”

The Mexican singer—who is part of a girl-group called Lakoda Rayne on the show—says she knew right away that The X-Factor was right for her. “I knew it was going to be a huge deal—Simon Cowell starting his own show with all of these other amazing judges,” says Hayley. “They have a 5 million dollar prize, and this amazing record contract and it just looked like such a better option," {Laughs}.

And while part-PuertoRican Scotty McCreery became the first Latino to win Idol earlierthis year, Hayley says she wants to make history on TheX-Factor. "It would be SO GREAT to be called the “first Latina to win X-Factor!” she says. "I mean, seriously—I am proud of my heritage—even though there’s just a little bit of it in me. And it would be so awesome to hear that from people. So yeah!